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Barcelona has a bit of everything: Undeniable charm in its cobblestone streets, stunning architecture, sun, sand, sea and sangria. It’s one of the European cities I could easily live in and one of my favorite destinations. As with most places in Europe, it can be stiflingly hot in the summer and crammed with tourists, so May, September or October are my most desired times to visit.

To Stay:

Hostal Grau: This little hotel is on an active little street parallel to the Ramblas and a short walk from Placa Catalunya, so you can’t beat the location. Don’t be fooled by the name, it’s not a hostel but a small hotel. It’s had an update in recent years to minimalist furnishings and eco-friendly design. We stayed in a two-bedroom apartment in an adjacent property which was fantastic and budget-friendly.

Hotel Granados 83: A boutique hotel in the heart of the Eixample, you’ll be close to some of my favorite tapas restaurants and walking distance to Casa Mila. the décor is more modern and industrial but with warm touches like exposed brick in the rooms. A lovely rooftop pool area completes the experience.

Hostal Grau
Calle Ramelleres, 27
08001 Barcelona, Spain

Hotel Granados 83
Enrique Granados 83
8008 Barcelona, Spain

Gaudi:

ParkGuell: Gaudi is obligatory in Barcelona and my favorite without question isParkGuell. Youusedto be able to visit for free, and while always full of tourists, I still found thisparkto be a perfect place to come for hours at a time to read, sun myself and relax whileenjoyingGaudi’s spectacular mosaics. Now you must pay to enter the historic center of the park, andticketscan be purchased in advance for a specific time slot. The park is about a 20 minute bus ride fromthePlacaCatalunyaorRamblas, but worth spending the better part of a day.

Your turn! If you visit, please fill me in on the experience with the new paid entry. Your experiences will help others – good traveler karma, dontcha know. ;)

Casa Mila/La Pedrera: This incredible apartment building in the Eixample is well worth the 20 Euro entrance fee. your experience includes winding up the building itself, exploring the alien-like sculptures on the roof and touring an apartment boasting early 20th century style as residents would have when it was built. Again, you need to book online for a time slot but this allows you to choose your favorite time of day to take in views of Barcelona from the roof. A magic hour treat.

Sagrada Familia: Gaudi’s most famous work, the unfinished Sagrada Familia church. It’s a must to see from the outside, though I’ve been unwilling to dodge the crowds to tour the inside.

Park Guell
Carrer Olot 508024 Barcelona, Spain

Casa Mila
Carrer de Provenca 261 - 26508008 Barcelona, Spain
From March 3 to November 2: Monday to Sunday, from 9am to 8.30 pm (last admission: 8.00 pm)
From November 3 to March 2: Monday to Sunday, from 9 to 6.30 pm (last admission: 6pm)

Fat Tire Bike Tours: Bike tours are an incredible way to see a new city and Fat Tire’s tours are exceptional. I’ve taken the tour in Paris twice, once in London and once in Barcelona. The tour generally takes four to five hours and hits many major sites at a good clip, fast enough to get you acclimated to the city which makes it that much easier to navigate in subsequent days by foot. The Barcelona city tour has a break in the middle on the Barceloneta beach complete with refreshing sangria to share. Fat Tire tours are run by English speakers, last about 25 Euro per person and can be reserved online. http://barcelona.fattirebiketours.com/

Cook & Taste Barcelona: This fabulous cooking class begins with a tour of the Boqueria market to gather fresh ingredients for the day’s menu. The class is then conducted in a kitchen on the top story of a building overlooking the bustling Ramblas. As you sip wine, you will be divided into small groups and tasked with preparing classics like gazpacho, tortilla and paella. Our crema catalana with fresh figs was a highlight. Tours start at 65 Euro per person and can be booked online. http://www.cookandtaste.net/

Tapas Tour Barcelona: Like many big European cities, eating in Barcelona can be tricky if you don’t know where to go or how to abide by local food customs. With a tapas tour like Tapas Tour Barcelona, you literally get a taste of what the city has to offer. On my tour there were some standouts like La Plata and Can Paixano, but there were also some mediocre choices too. Use this as a jumping off point to get familiar with the tapas scene and then venture out on your own! Tours start at 39 Euro per person and can be booked online. http://www.tapastoursbarcelona.com/#_=_

Can Paixano – “La Xampaneria”: Just off the Barceloneta, you’ll likely hear this hopping spot before you see it. Known for it’s house made cava for about 1 Euro per glass, it’s likely to be packed with tourists and locals alike gearing up for a night out. Just join the fray and make some new friends, you’ll have to get cozy in order to grab a drink or a bite. It closes early by Spanish standards – around 10pm – so plan this as a first stop before tapas hopping elsewhere in the city.

La Bodegueta: In the Eixample, this is a great stop before or after visiting Casa Mila or if you’re staying in the area. Just great quality dishes and a casual, friendly atmosphere. The fried artichokes are special.

It’s supposed to be spring now, right? It’s hard to tell based on the fact that we’re still having sub-freezing nights in London. The bright sunny skies outside today just add insult to injury.

My friends on the East Coast of the USA have had it worse though, and even this morning exasperated posts about yet more snowfall filled my Facebook feed. And Boston, oh Boston… I love that town, but holy hell have they had a rough time this year.

It’s been an especially brutal winter, so it’s no wonder I’ve received messages from friends around the world asking about recommendations for destinations like Spain and Italy to thaw their frozen spirits.

So here I’ll offer a preview of sorts: Destinations that seem high on my friends’ and readers’ wish lists for summer getaways.

Namely:

Barcelona and Madrid

Cinque Terre

Amalfi Coast (shocker, I know) ;)

I’ll also give an update on my off-season travels to Paris and Malta.

Let’s plot our escapes together, shall we?

Blue skies and sunshine, but don’t let it fool you, London is one chilly tease at the moment.

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It’s a misty, dreary day in London – perfect for day dreaming about warm sunshine, clear seas and picturesque views in Positano (aka my happy place) and a new favorite.

I visited Casa Buonocore in September to try their spectacular breakfast spread and tour the rooms. Styled as a “Charming Guest House,” I would describe it as a luxury bed and breakfast. After refurbishment, Nino, Sandra and Annamaria Buonocore reopened their villa in 2012 with a fresh and airy take on a classic Italian villa. I love that Positano is exploring this modern direction, exemplified also by restaurants Next2 and Casa e Bottega. This kind of design will likely continue to draw younger guests to what’s traditionally been a retreat for the wealthy, established set.

The design is a thoughtful mix of rustic touches amongst comfortable elegance. Spread over three levels, each of the six rooms has a distinct style, some drawing on cultural influences from Asia and Africa. Each also boasts at the very least, a private balcony large enough for a table and two chairs for enjoying evening aperitivo. One classic room has a larger terrace with sun chairs surrounded by lush trees and gardens like a private oasis. The largest deluxe room has a huge terrace with 360 degree views of Positano, the hills and the sea.

The breakfast spread for guests is incomparable to other B&Bs I’ve seen in town. In addition to homemade pastries, charcuterie and cheeses, I opted for a deviled egg garnished with caviar and the sweet confit cherry tomatoes. For a more traditional English or American breakfast, eggs are available cooked on request out of the villa’s state of the art kitchen. And of course, beautiful coffee prepared to order.

Casa Buonocore benefits from a superb and convenient location, just up from the main Piazza Mulini between the square and landmark Le Sirenuse Hotel. Snuggled near several shops, it’s only a short distance from the main road and you only have to climb a few stairs to reach the villa – another luxury in a town built on steep terraces. It’s then a quick walk down to the main Spiaggia Grande or to the Sita bus stop to Amalfi or Sorrento.

After seeing the guest house and all it has to offer, I expected the rates to be comparable with a 5 star hotel, but I was pleasantly surprised. Classic rooms are smaller but are fully functional and beautiful, and start at 220 Euro per night in the low season or 240 Euro per night in the high season. You’ll pay more for the deluxe room at 450 Euro per night in the high season.

As you find with most areas of the Amalfi Coast, the Buonocore family aren’t just guest house proprietors. They take pride in their villa and in welcoming you to your second home in paradise. As a result, this lovely B&B will now be one of my standbys for friends and family when visiting Positano.

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I waited until one of the final days to visit “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red,” otherwise known as the poppies at Tower of London. While I had to dodge the largest crowds this weekend leading up to today, Day of Remembrance in the UK, the majesty of the installation at completion was incredible and well worthwhile.

The memorial is elegant and moving, commemorating the 100 year anniversary of WWI. It consists of over 800,000 ceramic poppies spread over the moat around the Tower, cascading from a window and flowing up into a wave. While beautiful, it invokes the emotion of the tribute to the lives lost during the great war and in conflict since.

Sadly the poppies will only be on display in their full glory until November 11th, the anniversary of the end of WWI on November 11th, 1918. They will begin to be removed on the 12th. I think London as a community will greatly miss this lovely work of art.

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“This is my second favorite beach in the world,” proclaimed my friend Suzanne with a contented sigh. I didn’t ask her what her most favorite was. Mainly because I’d already decided that Spiaggia di Laurito was at the top of my list.

We found ourselves at this little paradise after a friend and Positano local asked me about our beach plans. When I said we planned to Fornillo, Positano’s small beach and my preferred spot, she scoffed. “No. You have to try Laurito.” Suzanne and I looked at each other, shrugged and agreed, why not? After convincing the shuttle boat to take us a half hour earlier than the next scheduled voyage, we were on our way for the 15 minute scenic trip to Laurito and Da Adolfo, the most favored beach side restaurant. We were greeted immediately from stepping off the boat and settled into sun lounges. (A happy fact: The daily rental for sun lounges is cheaper at Da Adolfo than Spiaggia Grande or Fornillo!)

Da Adolfo looks like a jammy little beach hut but in fact serves some of the best food in the area. Locals know that if they spend a day off at Da Adolfo they are in for a three-hour lunch extravagana. In addition to the obvious grilled whole fish, Salvatore serves up chef specials daily like eggplant parmigiana. Not what you would expect for a hot day in the sun, but surprisingly rich and satisfying.

On my second visit to Da Adolfo with my friend Antonio, I let him take the lead (as any wise woman would do) in ordering. The result? Mozzarella on grilled lemon leaves, seafood salad, carpaccio, grilled whole fish – “The cheek is the tastiest part” – and white wine with sliced peaches. You can usually tell if I’ve had a particularly spectacular meal when there are nearly no photos to show for it – I was too busy wallowing in foodie bliss with morsels in each hand to be bothered taking pictures that would surely not do it justice.

With Laurito and Da Adolfo, you must have time for an all-day leisurely affair. The boats leave every half hour or so from Positano’s marina and there’s a hiatus between about 1 and 4pm for lunch. (Not a bad life for the boat skippers, I must say.) As the sun begins to disappear in this little cove, the last boats return to Positano around 6pm.

There is another restaurant/hotel on Laurito but no one seems to trouble themselves there – Da Adolfo steals the show. And rightly so.

At a dinner party in Positano, a friend’s four-year old daughter cleaned her plate of mozzarella and tomatoes, octopus salad and anchovies and asked her mother for more, twice, before the main course even came out. I was simultaneously impressed and charmed. A girl of my own heart. I asked, “How do you say ‘good-eater’ in Italian?” “Una buona forchetta.” A good fork. Yes, I can certainly relate.

I often tell people that eating is my hobby. A far more poetic description is that for me, meals solidify memories. The most memorable meals of my life, I can tell you not only where I was, what I smelled and what I tasted, but who I met and how I felt.

So not surprising then that my life in travel revolves around food. :) During my summer in Positano, I had the pleasure of adding to my restaurant recommendation list.

Il Ritrovo: After a beautiful hike on the Path of the Gods, we ended back in the main piazza at Montepertuso for a late lunch at Il Ritrovo. Chef Salvatore and his lovely brother Paolo made me feel right at home bringing me a glass of refreshing prosecco as I looked out to the ocean from our table on the terrace. I started with a beautiful grilled octopus recommended the chef and sampled a few of the sautéed local shrimp – to die for. Then Chef Salvatore surprised me with bruschetta and zucchini flowers (after saying they were my favourite) and for a main course sautéed mussels and clams. Fresh ingredients are the star here : On my most recent visit, Paolo convinced me to have a special pasta made with mushrooms he had gathered that day. I don’t have a picture because I was too much immersed in bliss, savoring this creation to come up for air, but it was quite possibly the most delicious pasta I’ve ever had. I heard this sentiment echoed by a whole group at the table next to me. Il Ritrovo is about a 10 minute drive above Positano but like most restaurants in Montepertuso, it has a complimentary shuttle that will pick you up and drop you off if you make arrangements. It’s definitely worth getting out of Positano center for this gem.

La Sponda: Smack in the center of Positano at the famed Le Sirenuse hotel, is Michellen-starred La Sponda. Admittedly I was always intimidated of both the hotel and the restaurant on my early visits to Positano but I really had no need to be. I first visited the Champagne and Oyster Bar a couple of years ago and was surprised at how even in the most elegant atmosphere the staff put me at ease. It’s the same in the restaurant as the maitre d’ welcomed me warmly and showed me to my table where sommelier Cristian greeted me with a visit from the champagne trolley. The champagne, Jack Legras, was a creamy delight that was the most beautiful champagne I’ve ever tasted. Normally I would choose the tasting menu with wine pairings but I actually felt that it was too much food for me on that particular night so I chose to order a la carte and let Cristian choose wines to match each course. I had a lovely tuna starter, then pasta with fresh fish (again convinced by my server), John Dory with saffron sauce for a main and then finally the lemon soufflé with lemon granita. Every course was presented beautifully by the attentive staff and everything was tasty and fresh. My one criticism is that the soufflé was a bit too eggy in texture for my liking, but otherwise tasty. La Sponda prides itself on the romantic atmosphere – lit by 400 candles nightly according to their website – and on this particular night when rain kept the outside dining terrace closed, it created an intimate glow. Now I did have some special treatment, my visit arranged by the sommelier himself, but I can attest that everyone is made to feel special at La Sponda. The staff doesn’t take for granted that a restaurant of this calibre and reputation is an occasion destination and they endeavour to make everyone have the once-in-a-lifetime memories every night.

Casa Mele: Opened in June 2014, Casa Mele is Positano’s newest culinary offering. Just off of the main road up from the Sponda bus stop, you’ll first notice the chalkboard painted pig greeting you at the entrance. The interior is clean-lined and modern with a few vintage touches like the floral lampshades arranged into a chandelier. There’s no sea view or terrace here, but Chef Raffra does one better with his sleek open kitchen and huge window so you can watch all of the action. I went with three other diners on my visit so we were able to share and sample a range of dishes. To start, we were treated to a little cheese with peppers and tomatoes. Then it was on to the seafood salad and fresh grilled vegetables. A seafood risotto followed. For a main, I had a beautifully cooked seabass while my friends shared the seafood soup. You can’t usually go wrong with seafood on the Amalfi Coast as its freshness lends itself to simple preparations which allow the ingredients to shine. Chef Raffra elevates even the simplest ingredients with attention to flavor combinations and elegant preparations. For dessert, I chose my favourite delizia al limone, a local lemon cake which Chef Raffa serves in a kind of deconstructed version of light cake layered with lemon crème. I find that most restaurants in Positano, while skilled at savory selections, struggle with desserts – the exceptions being the tiramisu at Da Vincenzo and basically everything at Casa e Bottega. But Chef Raffra excels in his inventive takes on regional classics. Bravo, indeed.

Is it any wonder that an Italian said this? And not just any Italian, but Galileo Galilei. Because wine would make stargazing a lot more interesting, I expect. ;)

Having lived in Sonoma County, California, I’ve been on a few wine tastings. But a wine tour? I wasn’t exactly sure what a wine tour even entailed until meeting Positano native and professional sommelier Cristian Fusco. The idea is not simply fork over a few dollars to swirl, sniff, sip and spit, but to completely immerse yourself in the vintner’s world from cultivation through production to consumption. And at Swirl the Glass, a tour culminates with a tasting experience including the art of complimenting wine with food.

On a recent trip to the Amalfi Coast, I joined Cristian on a tour to boutique winery Tenuta San Francesco in Tramonti. Just a 45 minute drive outside of Amalfi, we began our journey wandering through the vines themselves while Cristian discussed the benefits of pergola cultivation, the weather and seasons dictating the conditions of a great wine, and the requirements for DOCG and DOC wines in Italy. Cristian also discussed the lack of synthetic irrigation and the necessity of dry soil to produce a complex and flavorful wine. This concept harkened me back to one of my favorite quotes from the movie “Bottle Shock” (a fabulous film telling the story behind the famous 1976 Judgement in Paris): “‘A comfortable grape, a well-watered well-fertilized grape grows into a lazy ingredient of lousy wine.’ ‘So through hardship comes enlightenment.'”

After meandering in the vines, we came inside the winery building for a look at the modest if only in size, not in technology, fermentation room before admiring the beautiful French and Austrian oak barrels in the cellar. Cristian’s explanations were not overly technical but instead explained the life cycle of a great wine, which only built my thirst to try some. :)

Cristian conducted the tasting over a superb homemade lunch cooked for us in the winery kitchen and served at a communal table with a huge open window overlooking the vines. We started with Tenuta San Francesco’s Spumante, or sparkling white wine, “Alta Costa”. The crisp white “Tramonti Bianco” accompanied our first course of panzanella (Italian bread salad with fresh tomatoes), fior di latte mozzarella and ricotta. Our pasta course was a local specialty, gnocchi alla Sorrentina, served with the lovely “4 Spine” or “four thorns” red. Finally, it was roasted chicken with Mediterranean vegetables served with the “E Iss” – “This is it” in Neapolitan dialect – red made from just one grape varietal found only in the Tramonti region. For dolce, a tiny tiramisu-like custard cake.

My favorite part of the Swirl the Glass experience was this delicious lunch, clearly made with love by the women of Tenuta San Francesco, accompanied by great wine and conversation with fellow travelers. That day, I shared the table with an Australian journalist living in Dubai, her mother who lived in Indonesia, a couple from Dublin, and another couple from Brisbane. Our afternoon was luxurious and unhurried and was conducive to our understanding and enjoyment of the wine.

Cristian’s gift is not only his passion and knowledge for wine, but the way he makes it accessible to even a wine novice like myself. My friend Emily once said, when describing her knowledge of Italian wines, “I know about prosecco. And when I say I know about it, I mean I know I like to drink it.” Cristian whole-heartedly agrees with this sentiment. For him, Swirl the Glass experiences facilitate the most important factor to any wine tasting – knowing what you like and enjoying it. Salute to that!

I’m convinced that in order to deserve spending now the vast majority of my summer in Italy, I must have rescued puppies from drowning in a previous life. I can’t just be lucky, right?

After a purely magical month of May in Positano (with a quick stop in Rome in the middle), I was back in Italy for most of July. First, it was Franciacorta and Lago d’Iseo for my friend Giovanna’s wedding, back to Verona for the Opera Festival, then back to Positano. Because, again, the puppies.

The great thing about my summer in Italy is that it’s been a wonderful combination of new experiences and old favorites. So, dear reader, you’re in a for a treat: A series of posts about my favorite place on earth!

Starting with #onemonthinItaly in review – my month in Positano!

Positano is easy navigable by its two bus stops: Chiesa Nuova (at the top of town where the bus drops you off in front of Bar Internazionale) and Sponda (on the other side just up from Li Galli bar). In between there’s a one way road which winds through town, culminating at Piazza Mulini. I rented a gorgeous apartamentino in the Liparlati area of Positano, just a 10 minute hike up steep stairs from the center of town between Piazza Mulini and Sponda. I had a teensy Juliet balcony with French doors that opened on to blooming bourganvilla with a sea view and within chiming range of three churches. So you know, a shack really. ;)

I quickly got acquainted with my local market and vegetable shop. My friend Luigi drove me up to the fish market at the top of town, where Nicola and the crew expertly cleaned and filleted my fish for me, because I of course could not be trusted with such a feat of culinary expertise. But while I was self-sufficient as I could be, I soon found that working from home every day meant that social interaction over meals every day was essential. And so, a normal day looked like this:

9pm: Back down to town for dinner, then drinks with friends. If I had an earlier day and could finish around 7 or 8pm, I threw a little aperitivo in there for good measure.

I have a little collection of friends in Positano since I’ve visited once a year since 2007, but what a treat to meet i miei nuovi amici! There was always someone at the bar having an espresso or at La Brezza having a beer and I was always welcomed to join in. I thought I might get bored in this town of 4,000 people over the course of the month, but I settled in quite naturally to the slower pace of life complimented by the buzz of the social nature – what’s not to love about saying “Ciao!” to five or ten people on your walk to town?!

And because I wasn’t cramming my visit into four days and therefore only having time for my favorite restaurants – Le Tre Sorelle and Mediterraneo – I was able to try a whole host of new, both to me and in general, eateries. Tanina’s healthy fare and delectable sweets at Casa e Bottega was a multiple times per week occurrence.

More to come on the foodie adventures, but first, actual adventures! With all of this time in Positano, I knew I would make the compulsory trips to Sorrento, Amalfi and Ravello, but I also wanted to try some new things as well.

First it was off to Praiano, Positano’s sister town just a short 15 minute bus ride from Mulini. I rode the bus all the way to the top of town to take in the breathtaking views, then walked back down to the Chiesa San Gennaro with it’s majestic mosaic piazza overlooking the sea with Positano in the distance. I visited on a Sunday so several of the shops and eateries were closed, and I didn’t make it down to One Fire Beach so I don’t feel that I experienced the best of Praiano, but that’s something to look forward to on the next trip! :)

My lovely friend Suzanne came to visit mid-month and as we sat over breakfast at Casa e Bottega, we got a recommendation to forgo Positano’s main beach and even the more low-key Fornillo, and head to Laurito. This tiny beach is a 15 minute (free!) boat ride away from Positano’s boat dock – just look for the boat with the red fish sign for Da Adolfo, one of two restaurants on the beach. You hop off unceremoniously from the boat and within seconds are ensconced in a sun lounge. Lunch is at the spectacularly tasty Da Adolfo which is nearly always packed. It’s a bit comical really as tables are full at Da Adolfo and empty at the neighboring Le Sirene. On my first visit, we stuck to chef Sergio’s special eggplant parmagiana which was creamy, cheesy and surprisingly satisfying for a hot day in the sun. When I went back with my friend Antonio, a Positano native now living in Milan, the spread was decidedly more of a celebration of local specialties: mozzarella on grilled lemon leaves, carpaccio, seafood salad, grilled local fish and white wine with peaches. With Laurito, boats start running at midday, stop between about 1:30 and 4 for lunch, then return to Positano between about 4 and 6pm. Be careful on the weekends as this little oasis gets busy and you may be in for a let down if you don’t make a reservation for a sun chair or lunch.

Throughout my month in Positano I’d been asking around for a guide to take me to hike the Path of the Gods, renowned for the bird’s eye views of Positano. A friend offered to take me in lieu of an official guide the Monday of my last week, offering a much needed physical exertion after a few weeks of delicious food and gelato. We started from his home village of Montepertuso, about 10 minutes drive up from the top of Positano, hiked for over an hour toward Nocelle, then turned around and came back, where we rewarded ourselves with lunch at the incredible Il Ritrovo, just on Montepertuso’s main piazza.

Finally, on my very last full day, my friend Alberto picked me up for the drive to Praiano’s Praia marina, where he guided me on a private sea kayak tour to Laurito and back. It was my first time in a kayak, and after I got the hang of how to steer myself (and push myself off rocks when steering failed me, let’s be honest), we weaved through some spectacular little caves, waved to yachts and earned our 11am beer at Da Adolfo. The trip back to Praia was a bit rough due to wind and rolling seas, so poor Alberto had to tow me most of the way. I’m shocked really that he had the patience and energy to share a yummy lunch with me at Da Armandino (oh dear lord the lemon risotto with shrimp!) before driving me back to Positano.

The best thing about my new experiences in Positano is that I shared them with old and new friends! Thank you to Lorenzo, Luigi, Fanny, Suzanne, Antonio, Cristian and Alberto for making my month truly magical!

Seeing as I’ve been at Casa e Bottega nearly every day since arriving in Positano, it’s about time I wrote the glowing review it’s due. :)

Just walking into this calming little oasis, you can already tell it’s going to be a refreshing change from much of the standard fare in town. Half design shop, half café, there are only a few tables but my favorite place to sit is at the bar to watch Tanina, Rosalia and the rest of the lovely ladies prepare the light and delicious dishes to order. Tanina prides herself on sourcing the best local and organic ingredients and as a result, all of the food is incredibly fresh and flavorful.

Start with a detox water with lemon and mint and the amazing “sole liquido” or “liquid sun” smoothie, a combination of spinach, green apple, kiwi and lemon. Next choose from one of the huge salads either on the menu or the special salad of the day. The Casa e Bottega salad with tuna and avocado is a winner. I added chicken to a special salad with apple, beetroot and strawberries.

For aperitivo, the selection of charcuterie and cheese is delicious and satisfying. The platter comes with bruschetta made the way only the Amalfi Coast can make it, with pomodorini or cherry tomatoes so sweet they taste like candy.

And after all the healthy goodness, you can feel a little less guilty indulging in Tania’s incredible desserts. My favorite is the Delizia al Limone, a lemon cake traditional to this region, but Casa e Bottega’s version was more like a layered profiterole topped with lemon curd and cream. Light and luxurious at the same time. The ingredients are the star here, so even the cakes have a bit less sugar than you’d get anywhere else.

If the food weren’t reason enough to make this a standby for your breakfast or lunch in Positano, the lovely ladies of Casa e Bottega will make you feel at home immediately. Tanina is a well-known restaurateur in town, with her more formal dining option, Next2, set in the hill on the Fornillo side of town. Watching her at work is like watching a dance, and you can see how much pride she takes in her business and the customer experience.

Call me crazy, but I’m not a fan of the lychee. This strange little fruit confusingly looks like a pearl onion but is usually positioned in a sickeningly sweet martini at an overpriced cocktail bar sipped by stick figured chicks. The kind of chicks who were more than happy to drink cosmopolitans when “Sex and the City” was on the air but now think they need something more exotic. Okay, maybe I’m projecting, but the point is, no likey lychees.

Until Rose’s Luxury (and Emily’s recommendation). This amazing James Beard-nominated eatery in D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood is, in my mind anyway, reclaiming the lychee. Their signature lychee starter combines pork sausage, habanero, red onions, peanuts amongst lord knows what else into a deconstructed “salad.” It’s senseless, but once you heartily stir up this concoction into a gloopy, un-photogenic mess and gobble it up, it works. The humble lychee, rescued from a mundane martini, is now the star of a flavor sensation.

And this is the theme with Rose’s Luxury: None of these things seem to go together, but it works it sings.

We started with oysters two ways. Up until this point, only Le Bernadin, renowned pinnacle of seafood, has been able to make me actually enjoy a raw oyster. Topped with a tangy tomato granita, the teensy Kusshi oyster was surprisingly delicious. (Applause for you, chef Silverman). The chicken-fried oyster with tzatziki was next and a great crunchy, savory contrast to the Kusshi’s light freshness.

For a pasta course, we chose the ricotta-stuffed gnocchi which was probably the most “ordinary” dish of our evening. And by ordinary I don’t mean boring whatsoever, only leaning on the simple Italian flavors with the fun twist of being stuffed more like a ravioli than the traditional potato dumpling.

Next up were the uni scrambled eggs. Sea urchin? Eggs? Yup, that brilliant earthy saltiness with a basic egg base just hits you with a little something special that makes you wonder, “What’s in this?”

You guys, foie gras french toast. I feel like those four words should be enough, but with the sweet undercurrent of the foie gras, it’s so surprise that this almost felt like dessert. It was topped with ice cream for heaven’s sake, which also added the delightful hot/cold contrast to the already tounge-teasing sweet/salty combination. Heaven on a plate.

Rose’s Luxury is not just reclaiming the lychee, they’re also creating an efficient dessert experience by combining traditional sweet options with the cheese course. (And remember, Emily and I like us some cheese). All of the desserts we had featured cheese in the most extraordinary ways. First, sourdough donuts with apple cider and vanilla ice cream topped with cheddar. Then, poached bosc pear with smoked mascarpone. Finally, pineapple cornbread with jack cheese and bay leaf ice cream. It shouldn’t work. But it all does somehow. I can only imagine what kind of menu brainstorming and mad scientist-like testing must go on in Aaron Silverman’s kitchen after hours, culminating with managing to get me to eat and enjoy both raw oysters and lychees. Evil genius? Or just plain genius?

Rose’s doesn’t take reservations, but if you show up at opening time like we did, put your name in and amuse yourself with cocktails nearby for the likely hour plus wait, you’ll arrive hungry and ready for a special experience. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to sit at the kitchen counter to watch all of the action!

All of these dishes seem like they would fit in a pretentious, modern space filled with sharp edges and prickly staff, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The space is warm and inviting with exposed brick, fairy lights, communal tables and a feeling more like the indie vibe in Portland or Austin. If the food is the star, the staff is a close second. We were taken care of by the lovely Elizabeth from the moment we sat down, offered a top-up on our cava on the house, and treated to a couple of little tastes from the (very cute) chefs.

I’m not overstating that this was one of the best meals of my life. Not long after our evening at Rose’s I mentioned to Emily that I think I could fit in quite nicely if I moved to Washington, D.C. Coincidence?!?! ;)